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Jurgen Klopp says 'world will stop' during Liverpool derby

Sadio Mane
Image: Sadio Mane's goal settled this season's first Merseyside derby

Jurgen Klopp says the outside world will not exist for 90 minutes during Saturday's Merseyside derby.

Klopp has a 100 per cent record against Everton since replacing Brendan Rodgers, and last season's equivalent fixture ended in a 4-0 Liverpool win after Ramiro Funes Mori was sent off.

The Reds boss is again ready to savour a "special" derby atmosphere he believes few other places can match.

Leighton Baines collides with team-mate Maarten Stekelenburg under pressure form Sadio Mane
Image: Mane and Everton's Leighton Baines in action during the match at Goodison Park

He said: "There are not too many other cities around the world with two clubs of this size and importance.

"I think I am not skilled in a lot of parts of life, but maybe I am a genius in understanding derbies because I didn't need a second to understand this.

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"The world stops for 90 minutes in a city. Football is not the most important thing in the world but in a a few moments we love to think it is.

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"In the stadium it's still our ground. I'd really love to show this fact. Be aggressive, but not too aggressive and fight for everything to try to make our supporters happy."

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Everton last won at Anfield in 1999 but go into Saturday's game having lost just once in the league since December's derby defeat at Goodison Park.

Ronald Koeman's visitors have the division's in-form player in Romelu Lukaku, and the opportunity of closing the gap between the sides to three points.

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Jurgen Klopp says he has no problem with Gareth Southgate but admits Adam Lallana's injury is not good for Liverpool

Klopp said: "Lukaku is a really good striker. He has our respect. He needs passes, support from other players. How can we avoid this? My main thing.

"Everton is a good team. They had a really good run. Obviously confident. But we are Liverpool, we play at Anfield and nobody should underestimate the power of Anfield."

Lukaku has told Everton he will not sign a new deal, but he will not be crossing Stanley Park according to Klopp, who said: "I have never thought about players from other teams that we cannot reach. He is from Everton. I do not know about how many players moved between the clubs."

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